NCJ Number
68681
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 153-172
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
A BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF CHILD ABUSE IS PRESENTED IN THE FORM OF FIVE THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS AIMED AT SHOWING THE USEFULNESS OF SOCIAL LEARNING PRINCIPLES IN UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
THE PROPOSITIONS ARE NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE THEORY OF CHILD ABUSE, BUT TO SHOW THE VALUE OF FOCUSING ON CONTEXTS IN WHICH PHYSICAL ABUSE BECOMES MORE LIKELY. EACH PROPOSITION DEALS WITH AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF CHILD ABUSE: INEFFECTIVE CHILD MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, DELIBERATELY PUNITIVE CHILDREARING PRACTICES, IMPULSIVE ACTS BY THE PARENT TRIGGERED BY THE CHILD, HIGH STRESS LEVELS, AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHILD. BOTH INFORMAL EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH LITERATURE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THESE PROPOSITIONS. FOR PARENTS LACKING CHILD MANAGEMENT SKILLS, TREATMENT SHOULD INCLUDE PARENT EDUCATION EMPHASIZING TECHNIQUES OF SYSTEMATIC BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATION, TECHNIQUES OF MANAGEMENT, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT SUBCULTURES' USE OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT AND CHILD ABUSERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT WOULD BE USEFUL. TREATMENT OF PARENTS WHO BELIEVE IN PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT WOULD FOCUS ON DISCRIMINATIVE USE OF PUNISHMENT RATHER THAN ON ELIMINATING ALL PUNISHMENT. MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON ABUSIVE INCIDENTS AND ON PARENTS' SELF-CONTROL IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT FURTHER THE PROPOSITION THAT SOME CHILD ABUSE RESULTS FROM IMPULSIVE AGGRESSION. SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR THESE PARENTS. RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS SHOULD FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND MARITAL PROBLEMS. CRISIS NURSERIES, FOSTER GRANDPARENTS, AND HOMEMAKERS MIGHT PROVIDE SHORT TERM RELIEF. LONG TERM TREATMENT WOULD FOCUS ON ATTAINING MASTERY OF THE ENVIRONMENT. TREATMENT OF PARENTS WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES SHOULD FOCUS ON ENCOURAGING POSITIVE RESPONSES TO THE NEGATIVE STIMULUS BY USING PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION. ABUSE CASES IN WHICH THE PARENT ACTS UNDER DRUG OR OTHER INFLUENCE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THESE FIVE PROPOSITIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CHILD ABUSE HAS MANY POSSIBLE DETERMINANTS AND THAT MORE SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH IS NEEDED. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES TO THERAPY ARE NEEDED. A LIST OF 96 REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.. (CFW)